HUMZA Yousaf has been elected leader of the SNP on a promise to deliver a fairer Scotland – but what are his policy ideas and how does he hope to achieve independence?
The new SNP leader campaigned on tackling poverty and progressive issues like improving childcare provision – as well as insisting he would be the man to take Scotland to independence.
On the campaign trail, Yousaf repeatedly insisted No voters could only be won over to Yes if the independence campaign painted a positive vision of the future outside the Union and said he wanted to ditch the conversation around “process”.
In his victory speech, Yousaf said he would heal the divisions opened up by the leadership contest and insisted he was capable of winning over No voters by “continuing to govern well” – pledging to use all powers in his arsenal to “tackle the challenges of the day”.
He said: “Over the last five weeks we may have been competitors or supporters of different candidates, but from today – we are no longer team Humza, Ash or Kate, we are one team, and we will be the team, we will be the generation that delivers independence for Scotland.
“Where there are divisions to heal we must do so and do so quickly because we have a job to do and as a party we are at our strongest when we are united, and what unites is our shared goal of delivering independence for our nation.
“To those in Scotland who don’t yet share the passion I do for independence, I will aim to earn your trust by continuing to govern well, and earn your respect as first minister by focusing on the priorities that matter to us all, and in doing so using our devolved powers to absolute maximum effect to tackle the challenges of the day.
“For those of us who do believe in independence, we will only win by making the case on the doorsteps. My solemn commitment to you is that I will kickstart our grassroots, civic-led movement and ensure our drive for independence is in fifth gear.
“The people of Scotland need independence now more than ever before, and we will be the generation that delivers it.”
On specific areas of policy, Yousaf highlighted his intention to attempt to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and reform of key public services such as the NHS. He has also spoken about the possibility of introducing a wealth tax on the country’s highest earners to boost public spending.
He added: “My immediate priority will be to continue to protect every Scot as far as we can from the harm inflicted by the cost-of-living crisis, to recover and reform our NHS and other vital public services, to support our wellbeing economy and to improve the life chances of people across our country.
“I will move quickly to develop plans to extend childcare, improve rural housing, support small business, and boost innovation.
“I will bring forward reforms of the criminal justice system and work with local government to empower our local authorities.
“And as first minister I will not shy away from the tough challenges, those that require the difficult decisions, but where there is that challenge, I will use it to find opportunity.
“My government will seize the economic and social opportunities of the journey to net zero, a country as energy rich as Scotland should not have people living in fuel poverty.
"The government I lead will renew and redouble our efforts to lift people out of poverty, to make work fair and make our economy work for people, and to ensure as we become a more prosperous country we also become a fairer country.
“And while I have had my fair share of battles with the UK Government over the years, and there may well be some more to come. I will work with them, and with other devolved nations constructively where I can in the best interests of our nation.”
